Broadcast TV Superman & Lois - Season 4 (The CW) (1 Viewer)

[Adam Lenhardt]

This week's episode provided valuable insight into this version of Lex Luthor while featuring none of our past series regulars aside from the core Kent family.

Samantha Di Francesco not being a series regular was probably an asset this season, as it presumably made her cheaper to bring back when they wanted to use Candice. I do wonder where we're building toward with the circle of people knowing the Kent family's secret growing.

They've seemingly made the strange decision to have Kelcey Mawema look as much like Tayler Buck as possible this season, giving Denise the same hairstyle and a similar wardrobe. But despite that odd choice, I do like how with the Cushing and Irons families not in every episode this season, it creates space for the townspeople that have been recurring with a line here or there since the first season to get a little bit more to do.

I thought Jon Cryer's Lex Luthor was the best thing about the mostly dreadful last couple seasons of "Supergirl", a gleeful sociopath who was as brilliant as he was amoral. He was the perfect Lex for the "Arrowverse".

But this Lex definitely feels better suited to the more grounded "Superman & Lois" universe. It's interesting that this Lex evidently had a full head of hair for the entirety of his tangles with Superman prior to his incarceration.

And it's so telling that when offered the choice between his family and his vengeance, he chose vengeance. More like, he was constitutionally incapable of choosing anything other than vengeance. And his ego won't allow him to accept responsibility for that choice.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

I wouldn't have wanted them to flirt with Clark's secret getting out to the world if this weren't the last season. But I really love the way that basically the entire town knows, but nobody's saying anything to outsiders. And more than that, knowing the truth about Clark has given them the courage to be the better versions of themselves, too. Lex's foray into Smallville was thwarted because Lana and Clark appealed to parts of the townspeople that Lex himself doesn't possess.

What I love about this version of Clark is that the goofy qualities aren't an act, like trying to hide the box of hair dye. But the Clark that brawled with Luthor in the street is also in there too, even if it takes a lot to bring that Clark out. You can do whatever you want to him, but don't go after the people he loves.
The budget restrictions were felt a bit at the end this week; I didn't buy that Kyle wouldn't be rushing over to Lana's house to check in on his firstborn daughter and the mother of his children after such a brutal attempt of their lives.

I did like Sarah's storyline; lots of kids in dying rural small towns across America dream of getting out and experiencing the world. But how much more acute that feeling must be when you have two close friends who can dart around the globe any time they want.

There must be some sort of rights issue with Mercy Graves, because the live action shows always seem to call Lex's top henchwoman something else.

 

[NeilO]

I just caught up. They are doing a good job with what they can do with the budget.

I'm glad they did bring Superman back relatively quickly. Not enough episodes in the season to stretch it out. I knew someone was going to have to sacrifice themselves to do it, but did not suspect the sequence of events.

I had not seen Elizabeth Henstridge in anything since Agents of SHIELD. She had been in a few things since that ended in 2020. It was good to see her as Lex's grown up daughter in "Break the Cycle." She actually directed that episode as well (as well as some episodes in previous seasons).

It seemed a bit quick to get those special lights installed in the most recent episode. If they had more episodes this season I think they would have had the reveal in the next episode. I guess they went in when no one was looking that way.

Four episodes to go. They are going out strong.

 

[NeilO]

Another good episode tonight. One I could not see them doing if this was not the final season.

 

[jayembee]

I would argue that this was possibly the best episode of the series to date. And that this season as a whole might be its best, despite some of the deficiencies due to its cut budget. Lana should have been in this one.

Though I confess that it would've been more powerful if this had been an original idea with the show, and not something that had been done in the comics about five years ago (and then undone three years later).

Spoiler for the episode in the following image:

Spoiler

 

[Sean Bryan]

I would argue that this was possibly the best episode of the series to date. And that this season as a whole might be its best, despite some of the deficiencies due to its cut budget. Lana should have been in this one.

Though I confess that it would've been more powerful if this had been an original idea with the show, and not something that had been done in the comics about five years ago (and then undone three years later).

Spoiler for the episode in the following image:

Spoiler

View attachment 237426

Yes, this episode was excellent. I loved it and found it very moving.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

Another good episode tonight. One I could not see them doing if this was not the final season.

One that would arguably have been irresponsible to do if this was not the final season, because it closes off so many storytelling opportunities. But a really bold and exciting story to tell when it is the final season, and with three episodes left to explore the fallout.

Though I confess that it would've been more powerful if this had been an original idea with the show, and not something that had been done in the comics about five years ago (and then undone three years later).

It's not an original idea, but it is a first for live action. The only other thing that's come close is the end of Spider-Man: Far From Home, which was almost immediately undone in the first act of Spider-Man: No Way Home.

I don't really count Tony Stark as Iron Man, because Tony Stark was already an international celebrity before he became Iron Man. He didn't really sacrifice anything by going public.

I loved it and found it very moving.

Me too. The moment that really got me was when he walked into the diner after the interview and Denise greeted him as Mr. Kent. Because while he feels a duty to be Superman, he loves being Clark Kent.

And I thought Douglas Smith (younger brother of producing director Gregory Smith) was well cast as Jimmy Olsen.

 

[Sean Bryan]

Me too. The moment that really got me was when he walked into the diner after the interview and Denise greeted him as Mr. Kent. Because while he feels a duty to be Superman, he loves being Clark Kent.

Yes. I was actually going to mention that moment. I loved her “Good morning Mr. Kent.” It was perfect.

I’ve never been a big Superman comics reader. I only read a few in my youth (was more of a Marvel/X-Men) reader. But I’ve always loved the character from his depiction in other media. One thing I never liked hearing from some people (who were maybe big Superman readers?) is that “Clark Kent” was the disguise and Superman was who he actually was. The only thing I could ever feel in reaction to that was BULL-FUCKING-SHIT.

From my understanding of the character, he was raised by Martha and Jonathan Kent. And he understood his name to be “Clark” from when he first began to understand language. He simply IS Clark Kent. Being different and having powers made his early years complicated, but he was still guided into becoming the person he is (with his values ingrained) by his adoptive parents, the Kents. At some point later in his life, he learned of his alien heritage and biological parents and his birth name of Kal-El. And that heritage is important and also guided him to become the hero and protector he became (through the AI representations of his birth parents at the fortress), but it doesn’t superseded who he is at his core as a person growing up on Earth.

“Superman” is the identity he takes on when out in the world, being a hero, saving people and fighting villains. Yes, the version of Clark Kent he portrays to his peers in Metropolis is “creatively enhanced” to help sell the distinction between him and the Superman persona. But in my opinion, Clark is still the real guy. I think the key distinction is also made by the fact that anyone who actually knows him and loves him (knowing that he is Superman) would of course call him Clark. Not Kal-El and not Superman.

So no, Clark Kent isn’t just a disguise. Clark is the real guy. But yes, “Clark” has had to portray a version of himself to the world that is different than who he would be if not trying to hide the Superman identity. But he’s still Clark.

So I loved that this episode took everything that I always felt about the character and gave us a very moving story about what Clark has had to sacrifice his entire life to hide his Superman persona. And to see him accepted by the people of Smallville as Clark Kent even knowing that he is also Superman (in the “Good morning Mr. Kent” moment) was so moving and satisfying. I feel like it validated “Clark” as the actual person he is. It was so satisfying to see the world (or at least the residents of Smallville) acknowledge who he is and yet still treat him as an actual person.

 

[jayembee]

One of the most popular ideas among comics fans is that secret identity is the real persona, and the superhero is the fake persona. There's only one exception to this, and it isn't Superman (most fans, I believe, consider Batman to be the real persona and Bruce Wayne to be the fake persona). I think any feeling that Kal-El is the real person and not Clark is likely due to the idea (not universally held anymore) that what you are born as is who the "real" you is.

It's not an original idea, but it is a first for live action.

True enough. I'm not sure, however, that they would've gone with this on the show if it hadn't been done already in the comics. I'm not unhappy with it, but it's why I think it would've been a bolder move if it had been unprecedented.

The only other thing that's come close is the end of Spider-Man: Far From Home, which was almost immediately undone in the first act of Spider-Man: No Way Home.

I don't really count Tony Stark as Iron Man, because Tony Stark was already an international celebrity before he became Iron Man. He didn't really sacrifice anything by going public.

The important aspect of Tony's reveal is that, right from the beginning, it cemented the idea that the MCU was abandoning the entire concept of secret identities. Spider-Man was the notable exception, but it could be argued that his obsession with keeping his secret was because he was a minor (an idea that was also integral to Ms. Marvel). At this point, the only other MCU character I can think of whose identity seems to be secret from the world at large is Daredevil.

Me too. The moment that really got me was when he walked into the diner after the interview and Denise greeted him as Mr. Kent. Because while he feels a duty to be Superman, he loves being Clark Kent.

I loved that bit, too. I'm not sure I quite agree with your "because" though. I think it's more that for years they've known him as Clark (or, in this case, "Mr. Kent") and despite the reveal, that's who he will always be to them. Just the same "aw, shucks" guy they've known all this time.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

Just the same "aw, shucks" guy they've known all this time.

This show has done a lot well, but one of the most crucial things it got right is that Clark Kent isn't a disguise. He really is that earnest, kind "aw shucks" guy that he presents to the world. And Superman is a more authoritative and forceful variation on that same core person.

 

[NeilO]

The first of the three final episodes. While it is a good episode, they appear to following this pattern for these three - 1) things get worse, 2) even worse, 3) final confrontation and resolution.

I just get nervous watching as we see it go on this trajectory.

Last episode she said, let's get you a

Spoiler: killer suit

I knew that somehow we would see Luthor in a battle suit before the series was over. We first see Lex in an impressive business suit this episode and I was really wondering if we were going to see him get a battle suit. I did not expect them to hijack John Henry's suit and enhance that to do the trick. I guess Milton must have put some bug on their armor when they rescued him. Of course if it had been one of the kids saving him, then they would have had to stage something else to infect it. Superman's hearing loss played into it as he could not track him down. I am guessing it will have to be a real team effort to save the day.

As far as Godfrey, I don't remember all that much about him. Here is an article talking about his first incarnation in The New Gods.

Glorious Godfrey (New Earth)

Glorious Godfrey is one of the New Gods of Apokolips, and a member of Darkseid's Elite. An orator with incredible persuasive powers, Glorious Godfrey was sent to Earth by Darkseid to spread rhetoric and unrest that would help pave the way for Darkseid's coming. With the support of his travelling...

dc.fandom.com

At the moment I don't think he is anything more than an incendiary host of a talk show.

And as far as Superman aging and then eventually losing his powers. Maybe we will get some sort of montage in the final episode showing the kids taking over and Clark and Lois eventually retiring in peace.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

I liked this episode a lot. I wish we knew how many episodes they had each of the main cast for the season. I'm hoping we'll have all of the main cast aside from Dylan Walsh back for the last two episodes.

I could understand where Candice was coming from. She thought she'd signed up for being the girlfriend of a small town firefighter, and suddenly she's dating JFK, Jr. It's never been easy to be a young woman in the public eye, and the internet and social media have made it even harder.

Loved the pseudo-sibling bonding between Natalie and the Kent boys. It's not just that they share roughly a quarter of their DNA; they all are in the same position of having had to take on responsibilities and burdens that nobody else their age can understand.

I appreciated that the episode revisited the fact that John Henry and Natalie aren't from this universe. When Natalie noted to her father that she didn't this Earth's Lex was a computer genius, it reminded me that the Lex of their Earth was a computer genius, who designed the original iteration of the A.I. that became the operating system for their suits.

It's still kind of strange to me that this is evidently the first time that the Lex of this Earth has looked like his classic comics appearance. All of Superman and Lois's past tangles were with a Lex with a full head of ginger hair. I wonder if the Lex of John Henry and Natalie's Earth looked like Michael Cudlitz or Jon Cryer or someone else entirely.

Speaking of doppelgangers, it was fun to have Tom Cavanagh pop up in this. Assuming we're not building toward Apokolips and Darkseid, I'm going to assume that Gordon Godfrey is this universe's Harrison Wells, with a biological father who either died or took off when Gordon was born and a stepfather with the last name Godfrey.

And I don't think we are; the genius computer engineer being named Milton Fine is too big of a coincidence for us not to be building toward Brainiac.

 

[jayembee]

I really enjoyed this episode, too. Action packed, and nail-biting in parts.

As for Gordon Godfrey...while the name is certainly a reference to Glorious Godfrey of Apokolips, I doubt that it's meant as anything but a name-drop. It would be insane to introduce any New Gods to the show with only two episodes left. I seem to recall seeing somewhere back in the day that Gordon Godfrey appeared in Smallville at some point in later seasons, but I was no longer watching the show, so I don't know for sure.

(Just checked Wikipedia. He did.)

Milton Fine is certainly another name-drop, and I've no doubt that someone will make some off-hand reference to him as "a Brainiac", but again, I can't see them trying to actually suggest that he's the comics character at this late stage. Besides, there's no way they could top the version of Brainiac introduced in the show Krypton.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

Milton Fine is certainly another name-drop, and I've no doubt that someone will make some off-hand reference to him as "a Brainiac", but again, I can't see them trying to actually suggest that he's the comics character at this late stage. Besides, there's no way they could top the version of Brainiac introduced in the show Krypton.

As much as I'm enjoying this season, one of my issues with Lex's portrayal is that ten episodes isn't enough real estate to do Superman's archnemesis justice. It's necessitated streamlining his backstory in this iteration of the mythos which in turn has made him more of a devious street thug with a respectable veneer than the genius titan of industry he is in most post-Crisis versions of Superman.

Getting teases of Apokolips and Brainiac likewise just remind me that this series is ending with so much story left to tell.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

Didn't expect to see Chad L. Coleman back for this abbreviated final run, but I really liked how Bruno Mannheim was used here. He is a complicated man with a mix of good and bad traits, often doing the wrong thing for the right reasons. Lex Luthor, at least this Lex Luthor, is not a complicated man. He is a pathological narcissist, who destroys anything that he cannot have for himself.

I also really liked how Lois and Clark helped one another with their struggles this episode. The twins being underpowered compared to full Kryptonians makes sense, even though they might seem just as super to the average human. But unlike the Arrowverse, this Superman was--for most of his career--Earth's one and only superhero. What Jonathan and Jordan lack individually they can perhaps overcome through strength in numbers.

Can't believe next week is already the series finale.

 

[NeilO]

I just watched last night's episode. Plenty of surprises. I was also very glad to see Bruno Mannheim's appearance. He gave the Lois the means to perhaps turn the PR war around.

When they were in the fortress I thought - "they need work as a team." I was surprised it took them most of the episode to figure that out.

I was surprised Doomsday was back, but I guess they didn't want that to be a loose end. I've no good idea how that will be resolved and still have time for the main battle vs Luthor. There seems to be too much to do. Looking forward to it.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

Series finale extended trailer:

 

[NeilO]

Just saw the series finale. It was a good finale and I was glad how they split up events in the episode. The end of an era.

More after more people have watched it.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

Just saw the series finale. It was a good finale and I was glad how they split up events in the episode. The end of an era.

Yeah, I was happy they wrapped up the season-long threat with Doomsday and Luthor in the first half-hour. It let them really take their time saying good bye.

Glad that all of the series regulars (save the late Sam Lane) were back, along with a good number of the recurring characters.

While the story of this iteration of Superman and Lois Lane was pretty conclusively wrapped up, there were large enough gaps with the time jumps to tell more stories with these characters in the future if the opportunity should ever arise.

 

[Sean Bryan]

Loved it

“It went by so fast.”